Improvement in ladders



UNITED STATES IYATENT l OFFICE.

FREDERICK EELLS, OF WALTON, YORK.

' A IMPROVEMENT IN LADDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,238, dated December 26, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERICK EELLs,of Walton, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Ladders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, Vand exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawing making apart of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a representation of a front elevation and partial section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section.

This invention has relation to an improvement in ladders, by means ofwhich they may be adapted to inclined ground, and will stand as firmly on the side of a hill or declivity as on a horizontal plane. The novelty consists in the application to one of the sides or legs of the ladder of a slotted slide, having beveled edges to t and move up and down in a dovetailed recess cut in the side of the ladder at the lower end, a clampscrew and nut being provided to secure said slide at any point to which it may be adjusted. By this arrangement, as hereinafter described, it will be appa rent that the bulk of the end of the ladder-rail, to which the slide is attached, is not thereby iucreased when the ladder is to be used on level ground.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention, the letter A designates a ladder, and B a long dovetailed recess cut in one of the sides Al thereof, and holding a bevel-edged slide, C, hav

ing a longitudinal slot, D, and constructed with a flange, E. The latter lits against the lower end of the ladder side when the slide is pushed the whole way into the recess, a notch being cut to receive it and make it even with the opposite This ladder is adapted to use on an inclination y by placing the leg or side A2 above and drawing out the slide C as far as necessary to make the r ladder stand evenly, and securing it firmly by tightening the nut G, which may, for convenience, have an arm or hand-piece, g. This hanf dle or crank also serves to give greater purchase in tightening the screw.

I am aware that it is not new to attach an adjustable slide to the end ofthe ladder-rail; hence I do not claim such broadly; but

Having fully described my invention, I claim'- The slide C, constructed with bevel-edged iiange E turned inward, and longitudinal slot D, the clampscrew F, and crank-nut G, in coinbination with the ladder A provided with the dovetailed recess B, all constructed and arranged as and for the purpose specified.

`In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK EELLS.

Witnesses:

G. G. STEELE, Y GEORGE MIDDLEMIST. (30) 

